SHEPSHED Dynamo’s offering for Easter Monday at the Dovecote was a goalless draw with Carlton Town but how the game ended scoreless defies explanation.

It certainly was two points dropped for Dynamo who squandered enough chances to win three matches in the last 20 minutes.

Carlton knew that only a win would keep their faint hopes of a play-off place alive.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges as Shepshed, without the suspended Luke Barlone and Roland Agbor plus the unavailable Gilbert Cummins, took time to get their act together.

The first chance came on 15 minutes when Gokhan Ulker brilliantly skipped past two defenders down the right flank, cut in and then let himself down by screwing his shot wide of the far post. Seconds later Dean Gent did exactly the same for Carlton at the other end.

Shepshed began to look the better side. A cross from the left by Ian Screaton found Ulker at the far side of the area but he drove wide. A Kieron Fitzharris free kick near the right corner flag was missed by inches by an in-rushing Craig Civzellis.

Then just on half time Fazal Koriya, who was causing havoc on the left, found Fitzharris unmarked on the penalty spot but the ball got stuck between his feet and the chance was lost as three defenders descended on him.

Carlton had a good opportunity to go ahead ten minutes into the second half when ex-Dynamo striker Justin Jenkins was brought down on the edge of the penalty area.

The free kick was totally wasted by another Dynamo hero from last year, Rob Norris, whose shot went well wide.

On the hour mark Carlton made three substitutions in a last effort to win the game.

The move was ultimately to prove unsuccessful but it certainly changed the pattern of play as the visitors pushed forward. In doing so they left acres of space behind their back line which Shepshed found but failed to exploit.

On 71 minutes Shepshed really should have scored. A concerted attack seemingly ended with the ball going into Carlton keeper Alex Barcherini’s hands. But under no pressure he dropped the ball which ran to Koriya. Unbelievably, from eight yards, Koriya put the ball over the bar.

There then followed a farcical last 20 minutes. Elliott Atkin, now on for Ulker, burst down the left and crossed a ball that just asked to be headed home. Ashley Robinson missed it completely.

Richard Allen burst over halfway into a completely empty Carlton half and with no one giving chase seemingly just had to score. However as Barcherini advanced to the edge of his area Allen scooped the ball into his grateful arms.

Koriya broke through the non existent Carlton defence and shot wide of the keeper and the post. Then sixty seconds later Koriya received the ball 15 yards out and as Barcherini dived the wrong way the goal bound shot hit his legs and deflected wide.

It almost went horribly wrong for Shepshed in added time as twice Nick Jupp, who had had a relatively quiet afternoon, was called upon to make a couple of last ditch saves to deny Carlton.